Paul writes something extremely important that we must fulfill in our personal life: “But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” Why is this so important? It is important because when we appear before Christ’s judgment seat, each one of us will “receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” 1 Cor. 3:10. As Jesus says, we have entered into the work of others, and we harvest what we have not sown. John 4:36-38. Our fathers in Christ have built on the foundation that Paul has laid, with much wisdom. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 3:11. Johan O. Smith continued to build with great wisdom by being faithful in his own life. By being faithful to the light that God gave him, he followed Paul in following Christ. Ch. 11:1; Gal. 2:20. Likewise, our fathers and mothers in Christ continued to build with much wisdom until today. Now that new generations are growing up, may God grant to each one grace to be awake to, and take heed in his personal life, how he continues to build on the same foundation, Jesus Christ! When we have entered into the work of others, it is so easy to point out mistakes we see. However, Paul reminds us to meditate on the things that are praiseworthy and of good report. This is how fellowship is strengthened. We can stand together while we continue to work on the foundation on which our fathers and mothers in Christ have built until today. But what about what you clearly see is wrong, something that needs to be corrected, something that ought to be taken down again or changed? Concerning that point Paul writes about the “authority which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, [so that] I shall not be ashamed.” 2 Cor. 10:8. You will be put to shame when you begin to destroy. However, the easiest thing for human nature is to destroy. One can easily ruin what previous generations have built, but building something yourself that will last proves to be impossible if you will not acknowledge that you have entered into the work of others, building on the foundation that has been laid. Paul writes further: “According to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.” 2 Cor. 13:10. How is it in your life? Have you received authority from the Lord? If so, you have only the authority to edify, to build! But isn’t there also something that has to be corrected in the church; is everything perfect? Not at all, by no means! That is precisely the reason why we are alive: to be made perfect for the work of ministry. Therefore God has also given apostles, shepherds, prophets, evangelists, and teachers in the church “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ . . . .” Eph. 4:11-12. It is on this point that most people have no understanding of the sufferings of Christ. The flesh reacts when something difficult arises in the church, but Paul didn’t react according to the flesh. His attitude toward the Colossians was as follows: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.” Ch. 1:24. How could he react like that? The answer is that he had entered into a personal ministry before God; namely, to fulfill God’s word in his own, personal life. V. 25. Therefore we read further how he labored with God’s word, that he might “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Vv. 26-29. This is also our responsibility in the years to come. None of us know how long we will live. The organization of practical, external arrangements is an important undertaking so that it can be safe and good in the church, and the children and young people can grow up in good surroundings, regardless of country, environment, and living conditions. Therefore a great deal of work is put into all this by God-fearing souls who have the body of Christ in mind. Of course, this organizing is not the body of Christ, but it is necessary to meet the legal requirements of the times we are living in. Those who are baptized with one Spirit are the body of Christ, and all of them enter into a personal ministry for God. They become a blessing for those around them, having their fruit to sanctification, thus gaining an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Rom. 6:22; 2 Pet. 1:5-11. When Jesus revealed Himself to the apostle John on the island of Patmos, he was told to write to the seven churches, but the letter each of them received was quite different. Jesus knew each church and He knew every single person. It is the same today. The Spirit Himself testifies together with your spirit that you are a child of God. Rom. 8:16. You can never organize yourself into the kingdom of heaven. This is quite obvious from the letter to the church in Sardis. Rev. 3:1-6. The angel of the church in Sardis had failed; he had stopped building on the foundation that was laid and thus had become immune to God’s promptings. He certainly had a nice assembly that was well organized and had a good reputation, but none of that was of any help. Nevertheless, there were a few who, in their personal life, had understood to continue to build on the foundation that was laid. V. 4. These were to walk with Jesus in white garments, for they were worthy! The only way to resolve this dilemma was for the angel of the church to return to what he had learned and heard, and repent; then he could build on the foundation. This is the only building in which there is hope for the future. Here we see that organization, membership, or the leadership of others does not guarantee your salvation. It is the same today. Only your personal, hidden life with Christ in God will appear together with Him in glory. Col. 3:1-4. May God give each one grace to continue to build in their personal life, paying heed to what is praiseworthy, busying themselves with speaking what is of good report, and fulfilling what is lacking. Then God’s Spirit will lead you to what must be put to death in your flesh. Then, when you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, the Holy Spirit will give you the testimony that you are God’s child. Rom. 8:14; Phil. 2:1-23. Do you need any other testimony? 1 John 5:9-12. Such people have fellowship; they become one through God’s word, and their love for the brotherhood will never die. John 17:20-23; 1 John 1:1-3 and 3:14 and 24.Kåre J. Smith